Family Night or Anatomy 101?

We had a family night tonight based on being children of God and how each of us is special and unique. Dave and I traced the kids (all while they were giggling hysterically because they are so darn ticklish) on yellow paper and then they could draw any special features they wanted on themselves.

Sydney was all Picasso with this:



I think she was focusing on the makeup.

And Blake... well... we were dying when he drew in the teeth and the six purple toes on each foot. Before we knew it, he was making himself "anatomically correct" - in blue no less. Ahhh... typical male!

Quasi-Moto.

So, things definitely got worse with Blake swelling... these were taken yesterday afternoon.






He kept swelling and in the middle of the night, I awoke to him crying because his hand hurt so badly. I was up for awhile with ice on it, more ibuprofen and a broken heart. He got a father's blessing to help him sleep.

This morning, it looked even worse, I didn't take pictures this time - was a little too freaked out. His eye was swollen shut completely, his hand had swollen all the way up to his elbow and was looking discolored. I skipped work and took him straight to insta-care.

Turns out his is having a nasty allergic reaction, which surprised me since he had been stung by a wasp before and this had never happened. What I didn't know was that your allergy can worsen each time you get stung, which his reaction proved. I left with a prescription for steroids, antibiotics (for his possibly infected hand), and orders to give him Benedryl and keep his hand iced and elevated. Oh and an epi pen. Which is kind of scary. The doctor warned me that the next time he was stung, his reaction could be worse and close off his airway. Let's hope I never have to use that thing. We are going to have to watch him a little more closely when he is outside, just in case.

The rest of the afternoon I have spent catching up on my work and attending a work meeting and I am all worked out after three hours in a row.

Luckily, Blake's eye is starting to look a little better, I can see eyeball now and it his hand looks a little better too.

Last night at dinner, Dave and I joked that he looked like quasi-moto - Blake piped up and said "from the Hunchback of ODOR-Dame?", after some laughing and correction, he ran to the mirror and laughed pretty hard when he saw that he DID!

No excuse.

I have no excuse for not updating my blog - except that I have been feeling anti-social (I guess that includes blogging). So... some fun, and not so fun photos and updates are in order.

My birthday was on July 16th - I am now one year away from the big 3-0. Eah, just another year. You are only as old as you feel right? Wait... physically or mentally? Because physically I feel about 106 and mentally I am about... 23 some days?

My best buds Angela and Staci took me out for dinner, and I was gifted with a beautiful handmade photo/scrapbook album from Staci and from Ang, one of her coveted, handmade bracelet/earing sets.

Dave was in Cali. for my birthday so his mom, dad and sisters w/ hubby's and Larry's (LOL) came over on Wednesday with black forest cake and birthday fun!

Dave took me out on Friday night for dinner and a movie to celebrate.

And on Saturday I got a lovely card from a friend from high school Susan (you are so thoughtful), she never misses ANY occasion - I even get anniversary cards from her! I am serious. Either she has a memory like an elephant or is VERY good at keeping her calendar.

So it was birthday celebrations all week for me :)

AND, I got the most beee-oooo-t-ful flowers from Dave, and Katie on my birthday.

Dave sent these...





And from my thoughtful Seeestor.




We will all celebrate a collaborative birthday with my Mum and Dad when we head to Canada in August, as is the tradition - but I did get a beautiful card from them.

I feel loved :)

Here are a couple of pictures I have been meaning to post just because they are cute. The first one is of Dave and Blake when we were out on Adam's boat. It was taken with Dave's phone - hence the poor quality, but so cute!



The second one is of Sydney. We went to tuck her in one night and found the cutest scene (which seems to happen quite often).



Sleeping with not only one, but two of her babies tucked in right next to her. She seems to be getting more into the baby thing lately - I think she may be getting excited for her little brother to come!

And finally - Bee's, wasps, anything that stings (good thing we don't have scorpions), love Blake.

No joke. When we were in Canada last year, he was stung three separate times, in a pool FULL of kids. And as far as I know, no other kids got stung that day.

Yesterday, I got some quiet time at home while Dave took the kids to grandma and grandpa's house for dinner. Blake was on the chair swing and I think there were some wasps nesting or something in it... anyway, this is the result this morning.







His little eye and hand are so swollen this morning. It makes me sad every time I look at him. And I wasn't even there to offer mummy-comfort (which is the only kind you really want when you are five and hurt).

And...

I think my stretch marks are getting stretch marks.

Yum, Yum

I decided to use a couple of my new recipes to "special-up" our Saturday night family dinner.

Grilled Shrimp with Tomato and Mushroom Salad



1 lb large (I used small) shrimp, raw, peeled and deveined, butterflied, tails on (also great on skewers, I did mine in the oven since they were small)
1 t. kosher salt
1/2 t. paprika
1 t. ground oregano
2 T. olive oil

Combine in a bowl, toss well. Heat a grill pan, grill shrimp for 2-3 minutes just until pink. Remove from pan.

Salad:

4 c. mixed greens
4 Roma tomatoes, cut into thin slices
8 oz. button mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 c. thinly sliced red onion
2 T. red wine vinegar (NOT COOKING WINE)
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 t. kosher salt
1/2 t. ground black pepper
1/2 c. chopped Italian parsley

1/4 lb Manchego cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler (I used parm. The Manchego is GREAT but really expensive)

Place the greens in a large platter. In a med. bowl, combine the tomatoes, mushrooms, onion, vinegar, oil, garlic, salt, pepper and parsley. Toss well; pour over the greens; sprinkle with Manchego cheese and serve at once. (Don't forget to add some or all of the shrimp to the top). Serves 6-8.

This was soooo yummy. Dave was surprised that I liked it so much since I don't like "salads". I do love salads - like this. Just not the iceberg lettuce with a couple tomatoes smothered in ranch atrocities.

And for dessert?

Warm Chocolate Two Cherry Almond Bread Pudding



8 large eggs
2 c. half & half
1 c. sugar
1 c. sour cream
6 large croissants, ripped into 1" pieces (about 8 cups). I used 12 mini croissants

12 oz. pckg semi sweet chocolate bits, melted (I used white chocolate this time)
1 c. frozen bing cherries, thawed and drained of any excess liquid
1 c. dried cherries
2 t. almond extract

1 c. slivered almonds
Whipped cream or ice cream of choice

In a lrg bowl, beat the eggs, half & half, sugar and sour cream. Add the cubed croissants; allow to rest for a few minutes.
Heat the chocolate over a double boiler (or in a bowl over simmering water) until melted. Cool to room temperature (to avoid scrambling your eggs :)
Toss the chocolate, the two cherries and stir in the almond extract into the bread mixture.
Grease a 9"x13" baking pan; pour the mixture into the pan and sprinkle on the slivered almonds. Bake, covered loosely with foil, in a 375 degree oven for 45 minutes.
Remove foil and bake an additional 20 minutes or until center is set and the pudding has puffed. Cool slightly before cutting into 2" square pieces.
Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream Serves about 20 small pieces.

Okay, this is one of my favorite desserts by far. The white chocolate was a delicious substitute but I think I prefer the semi sweet... and with ice cream.

Both recipes are from Marguerite. Now I am going to go help myself to a second of that bread pudding.

Dentist, Dentist and more Dentist

Wow! It has been tooo long since my last update. I am behind on photos, recipes, more photos, updates...

Well, the photos are going to have to wait. My back isn't handling all the sitting with work and posting very well these days.

The fourth of July was so fun. The kids slept over at their aunt Krissy's house and had a blast. They woke up early to go see the hot air balloons in Provo. Dave and I sat in the empty house trying to conjure up what it was like before children however the house just felt... empty. I missed them even for the night.

We met them down in Provo for the parade. The kids were tired after their late night and early morning but I would say they really enjoyed the first half. After the first 20 minutes I had lost all feeling in my legs from sitting on the road in my current state. I almost couldn't get up, but I did, and made my way to the sidewalk where I stood wondering how I was going to make it through the rest. The sweetest elderly man offered me one of his camp chairs to sit in under his family's tent. I gratefully accepted and spend the rest of the time shuffling hot kids in and out of my lap.

We spent the rest of the day at home. The kids took a super long nap (and ours wasn't too shabby either), and we grilled and then headed out for the PG fireworks. It was so much fun. Dave's family was there, there weren't too many people, it was overcast and not too hot and the fireworks... well, we have made it a tradition to go to the PG fireworks every year. This was the best year by far. I think everyone was amazed by the artistry that went into them this year. The kids (and Dave and I) loved every minute of it.

The earlier part of the week was filled with appointments. Dentist appointments for each of the kids (great teeth, no cavities! YEY!), a Dr's appointment for Blake and visiting teaching for me.

This week has been a bit slower in the regard. A dentist appointment for me - which was long overdue. It had been awhile since I had been (I think since I was preggers with Blake? You do the math), so I was really nervous however I am pround to report my winning streak continues. Almost 29 years old and NO CAVITIES! WHOOO HOOO! Thanks for raising me in a place with flouride in the water Mum and Dad and to Mum for always getting on our case about brushing, brushing, brushing and for those regular dental appointments whether you could afford it or not. You will be happy to know that the dentist told me I have very good home dental care (and I thought I would be scolded for not flossing as often as I should!).

I also attended my "Summer Tapas" cooking class at Thanksgiving point. The chef, Marguerite Henderson was amazing and fun to watch and I loved nearly everything that she prepared. I will definitely be sharing some of the recipes and results with you soon.

My sister-in-law Jenny and my friend Chelsea attended as well which made it twice as fun. Thanks girls!

Other than these things, the big thing I am dealing with this week is the kids being sick. Blake came down with a mysterious, nasty fever on Monday that lasted all through the night and most of Tuesday. I made him stay inside most of the day on Wednesday until I was sure it was gone. Dave and I suspected that it might have been caused from his little drinking experience with the pooling gutter water on the street in front of our house (it is NASTY but he and Ellie were apparently too thirsty to come inside! EWWWWWW).

But then yesterday, Sydney came down with a more milder version of the fever with added stomach sickness. I was up for most of the night holding her hair back, getting her to sip water, helping her to the bathroom and dealing with my own sleep issues at a maximum (including the baby deciding to get all kamikaze on me when I finally did fall asleep - seriously, it felt like he was doing tai bo in there for a good 1/2 an hour and it hurt!). I don't think I truly fell asleep until around 5:30 am and needless to say I am dragging just a bit today. Thus, I am staying in my sweats, forgoing getting ready and just taking it slowwwww.

So, hopefully no neighbors drop in and my kids are content to stay close to home. Mama needs a rest.

A letter to my firstborn

Dearest Blake,

Last night I came in to lay down with you for a little while as you were falling asleep. The baby started kicking and so I put your hand on my belly for you to feel. You were incredulous, and so excited, your eyes lit up and that big smile spread across your face (the one that we all adore). You kept your hand there for the better part of a half an hour and every time you felt a kick you were as excited as the last time.

My favorite part was when you bent down close to my tummy and talked to your little brother. You told him you loved him and you couldn't wait to meet him. He seemed to respond and kicked at your hand every time.

My eyes teared up and stayed that way for awhile. I explained to you that you used to be the one kicking me. And now you are five. And I wish I could stop time.

I just wanted to let you know how much I love you. How much I always have from those very first kicks. I love the way you are so sweet and caring and how you always take care of your little sister; how you are so excited to be a big brother and to help take care of "your baby".

Things to remember:

-You leading the girls in Simon says's and the freeze game outside on the front lawn
-Pulling your sister and Ellie (or the 10 year old neighbor) all around in the wagon for over an hour at a time.
-Saying "Hi my sunshine!" to Syd when she wakes up in the morning or from a nap
-Your love for all bugs, big or small
-The millions of pictures you draw for me, especially the ones where you include my heart and a little baby in my tummy
-You telling me, as I tuck you into bed, "You're always in my heart"
-The way I can always get you to laugh by copying your face (just like your dad), no matter how mad you are
-Your love of all fruit and vegetables (even spinach), how after the park, Sydney wanted a cookie and you wanted the last vegetable skishkabob with onions, mushrooms and peppers on it.

Thanks for being so energetic and excited about everything. I see so much in you and I know that you are special and meant for great things. I just hope I can be all that I need to be so that you can accomplish all that you are meant for.

What a lucky mama I am.

Love,
Your Mummy.